Multipurpose cassette for adjusting a grinder in a mechanical or electrical condiment mill or on a device for finely breaking foodstuff

ABSTRACT

The inventive device for adjusting a condiment grinder or a foodstuff breaking unit comprises a cassette consisting of an adjusting ring ( 3 ), a dish-supporting slide ( 2 ) and a fixing washer ( 1 ).

The present invention relates to an independent universal cassette for adjusting the degree of fineness of grinding in a condiment mill or a device for breaking up a foodstuff.

How finely a condiment, such as pepper, is ground, or a foodstuff is broken up into powder, flakes or shavings, is generally adjusted using a nut. This nut is mounted on the operating shaft and is unscrewed to adjust how finely a foodstuff is broken up or ground. This type of device, namely the unscrewing of a nut, has the major disadvantage that the setting tends to slip and requires frequent re-adjustment.

However, the grinding adjustment device described in unpublished patent application 04 02299, also belonging to the applicant, describes a grinding device in which the rotation of the operating ring drives a dish-holder part in translation, thus making it possible to vary the relative position between the grinding block and the dish, thereby grinding the condiment. This system has the advantage in particular of not requiring re-adjustment.

Furthermore, the adaptation of a more elaborate system has the disadvantage of requiring an arrangement of this system for each type of mill. However, the shapes and sizes of the bodies of mills vary widely, and it would thus be very expensive to adapt the grinding adjustment system to each type of mill.

The invention aims to overcome the various drawbacks mentioned above using a universal adjustment device which is placed at the base of the mill and is suitable for use with many mill bodies, simply by adapting a decorative ferrule.

To this end, the present invention relates to a universal device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment or the breaking up of a foodstuff, characterized in that it consists of a cassette formed of an adjustment ring, a dish-holder slide and a fixing disk.

The rest of the description relates in particular to a mechanical pepper mill. However, the universal cassette device could be used for all types of assemblies for breaking up foodstuffs into powder or flakes, such as grinders, graters or knives, by way of non-limiting example, as well as electrical apparatus such as electric pepper mills, for example.

Mills designed especially for condiments, such as pepper, generally consist of various parts, in particular a container for holding the condiments and a grinding mechanism. The latter consists in particular of a disk attached to the body of the mill, this disk being surmounted by the dish-holder slide, which is embedded in an operating ring for adjusting the degree of grinding. The actual grinding mechanism consists of a female part, hereinafter called the dish, which fits with a male part, hereinafter called the grinding block, placed in the dish-holder slide.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by referring to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows all the parts of the mill, before insertion,

FIG. 2 is an example of how the various parts of the mill can be assembled together,

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the underside of the fixing disk in a mechanical mill,

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the top face of the fixing disk in an electric mill,

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the underside of the fixing disk in an electric mill,

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the movable stop,

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the dish-holder slide,

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the operating ring.

A fixing disk 1 is used to attach the universal cassette according to the invention to any mill body. This disk 1 is attached definitively to the body of the mill (not shown). It has two housings 1 a on the top face of the disk 1. These housings 1 a are designed to prevent the dish-holder slide 2 from rotating.

The fixing disk 1 also has two threaded holes 1 b for the insertion of screws for attaching the universal cassette. On its underside, the disk 1 has a collar 1 c, for receiving the operating ring of the grinding adjustment system. The underside of the fixing disk 1 also comprises a bridge 1 d, in the center of the disk 1, for connection to the operating shaft of the grinding block 5.

It is possible to create a hinge joint, by providing the bridge with a retention device on either side, such as a retention ring (non-limiting example). This connection system keeps the grinding block 5 in a fixed position.

The mill also comprises a part called the dish-holder slide 2. This part has a stop 2 a on its outer upper part limiting the movement of the operating ring 3. On its outer upper part, at the same level as the stop 2 a, notches 2 b perform an indexing function, thus making it possible to adjust how finely the condiment is ground.

The dish-holder slide 2 has a dish 7 and a grinding block 5 at its center. It is the relative movement of these two parts that grinds the condiment.

Underneath the fixed stop 2 a and the notches 2 b, also on the outer face, a screw thread 2 c is provided for attaching to the operating ring 3. This screw thread 2 c is interrupted at certain points to prevent the accumulation of dust. The underside of the dish-holder slide 2 has two housings 2 d for attaching the part 2 to the body of the mill using screws.

The center of the dish-holder slide 2 has a skirt 2 e which is inserted in the fixing disk 1 and prevents any of the condiment from getting back into the mill. The skirt 2 e has two bosses 2 f on its outer face, which are inserted in the housings 1 a of the fixing disk 1, to prevent any movement of the dish-holder slide 2 relative to the fixing disk 1.

The dish-holder slide 2 is screwed into the operating ring 3. This operating ring 3, representing the top part of the mill, has an internal screw thread 3 a, corresponding to the external screw thread 2 c of the dish-holder slide 2 and allowing the latter to be moved via the operating ring 3.

The underside of the ring 3 comprises three support surfaces 3 b and clips 3 c for attaching this part to the fixing disk 1. The top face of the ring 3 has a housing 3 d for insertion of the movable stop 4.

The top face of the ring 3 also has lugs 3 e, making it possible to drive the ring 3 mechanically using a decorative part, which may be made of wood, metal or plastic.

On its top face the operating ring 3 has a collar 3 f constituting a plastic bearing surface that comes into contact with the table to prevent any scratches if a metal decorative ferrule 6 is used. This collar 3 f also conceals imperfections in cylindricity that may be encountered with steel or wooden decorative ferrules.

The decorative ferrule 6 will be held in place both by the collar and by the mill body.

After the dish-holder slide 2 and the operating ring 3 have been inserted, a movable stop 4 is placed on the operating ring 3. This stop 4 bears on the fixed stop 2 a of the dish-holder slide 2, thus ensuring adjustment in the maximum position.

This movable stop 4 comprises an indexing finger 4 a which is positioned in the notches 2 b of the dish-holder slide 2 and thus ensures adjustment of the fineness of grinding, thanks to sensitive pinpointing of the grinding position.

One of the ends of the movable stop 4 has a dovetail 4 b, keeping the stop 4 in place in its housing 3 d, without the risk of it being ejected when the operating ring 3 is rotated.

Moreover, so that the movable stop 4 is not too rigid, it has an opening 4 c at its center, giving the indexing finger 4 a some flexibility.

The assembly made up of the operating ring 3, the movable stop 4 and the dish-holder slide 2 is inserted over the fixing disk 1 by clipping. The bosses 2 f and the skirt 2 e of the dish-holder slide 2 are inserted in the housings 1 a provided for this purpose on the fixing disk 1.

When the operating ring 3 is moved, the dish-holder slide 2 moves axially, thus changing the relative position of the dish and the grinding block.

In the end position, the way in which the various parts making up the mill are assembled means that there is either steel-on-steel contact between the two parts or a gap. In the case of pepper, this gap will be around three millimeters, and may vary depending on the type of condiment or foodstuff to be broken up into bits or flakes.

The universal cassette according to the invention consists of the assembly made up of the operating ring 3 with the indexing finger, the dish-holder slide 2 and the fixing disk 1. This cassette receives the dish and makes it possible to assemble and precisely position the shaft and the grinding block. The dish's position relative to the grinding block is changed, remaining fixed axially, thus adjusting how finely the condiment is ground.

Rotating the operating ring 3 in either direction moves the dish-holder slide 2 linearly by virtue of the screw threads 2 a and 3 a, this having the effect of changing the relative position between the dish and the grinding block, and of grinding the condiment.

As the operating ring 3 is driven mechanically by means of the lugs 3 e, this dispenses with the need for adhesive, which can sometimes cause problems in use depending on the type of material used.

The universal cassette as described above may also be used in electric mills. The principle is the same as above, although there are a few structural differences as regards the parts of the mill. Thus, the dish-holder slide 2 moves vertically without rotating, to facilitate the adaptation of a light means.

Moreover, the fixing disk 1 is attached to the mill body by adhesive bonding. The fixing disk 1 is housed in a housing 1 e designed for the passage of a peg.

This universal cassette as described is designed in particular for mills whose body has a minimum diameter of 54 millimeters. For diameters of greater size, an adapter ring may be added or made directly as part of the mill. If the diameter of the mill is smaller, the cassette according to the invention can no longer allow the passage of a light-holder tube.

Moreover, although indexing notches are provided to allow the user to quickly find a certain degree of adjustment, all intermediate positions are possible, without the risk of accidental slipping of the setting.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments, it comprises all technical equivalents of the means described. 

1. A universal device for adjusting the grinding of a condiment or the breaking up of a foodstuff, characterized in that it consists of a cassette formed of an adjustment ring 3, a dish-holder slide 2 and a fixing disk
 1. 2. The universal adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that rotating the operating ring 3 moves the dish-holder slide 2 axially, the latter in turn moving the fixing disk 1 placed on the body of the mill or of the apparatus.
 3. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cassette is suitable for use with all types of condiment mills or apparatus for breaking up foodstuffs, whether mechanical or electric, by virtue of a ferrule
 6. 4. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating ring 3 drives the dish-holder slide 2 by means of an internal screw thread 3 a present on the operating ring 3 corresponding to an external screw thread 2 c on the dish-holder slide.
 5. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device is attached to the body of the mill via the fixing disk
 1. 6. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating ring 3 has a movable stop 4 with an indexing finger 4 a.
 7. The universal adjustment device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the indexing finger 4 a of the movable stop 4 is positioned in notches 2 b in the dish-holder slide
 2. 8. The universal adjustment device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the movable stop 4 has an opening 4 c at its center giving it some flexibility.
 9. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing disk 1 has a bridge for connection to the operating shaft of the grinding block.
 10. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection between the fixing disk 1 and the dish-holder slide 2 is achieved by means of two bosses 2 f on the dish-holder slide which are inserted in two housings 1 a of the fixing disk
 1. 11. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external screw thread 2 c of the dish-holder slide is interrupted at certain points.
 12. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dish-holder slide 2 has a stop 2 a that limits the movement of the operating ring
 3. 13. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dish-holder slide 2 has a projection 2 e at its center that prevents any of the product from getting back into the grinding or breaking-up mechanism.
 14. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating ring 3 and the fixing disk 1 are clipped together.
 15. The universal adjustment device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating ring 3 has lugs 3 e for driving said ring 3 mechanically.
 16. Condiment mill or apparatus for breaking up a foodstuff as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a universal cassette adapted to the body of said mill or of said apparatus by virtue of a ferrule
 6. 